Living two lives

John Key, aged 41 when first elected National MP for Helensville, North
West Auckland, was an investment banker before entering Parliament for
National in 2002. He initially became associate transport and commerce
spokesperson, and by the 2005 election had become finance spokesperson,
and highly ranked. He says it is critical for a major political party
to have a robust debate when it comes to policy development. “What
most others and I would accept is there is no single perfectly correct
answer. Successful policy will always involve a combination.”

John Key says an MP’s role is multifaceted. There are two clear
distinctions. One is serving the constituency. At a micro level, MPs
help people through issues. The second is life in Wellington and creating
legislation. In some respects they inter-link, but the work is quite
different. It is generally portfolio based, and more macro.

Investment

John Key says MPs who can bring specific skills into the Parliament
have a tremendous value, primarily because they bring realism into what
can be a rather abstract world at times.

His experience is with domestic and international financial markets. “If
you look at some of the big issues facing New Zealand, it does not take
long to reach the conclusion that both investment from a retirement
savings point of view, and investment in infrastructure, are two quite
key issues.”

Government is part of the holistic solution to New Zealand's problems.
Key favours public/private partnerships. “Similarly, how we prepare
for the obvious demographic change of an ageing population is another
clear example of where Parliament needs MPs who can bring experience and
knowledge,” he said shortly after beging first elected to Parliament..

From Youth MP to youngest MP

Darren Hughes, at 24 in 2002 when first elected New Zealand’s youngest
MP (and fourth youngest ever), says it is important to find ways to inform
young people about democratic processes. “That’s why I have
been so passionate about promoting Youth Parliament.”

Darren Hughes chaired the 2004 fourth Youth Parliament multi-party committee,
which is made up of all parties. He is Labour MP for Otaki and chaired
the Labour Youth Council. By the end of his first term in Parliament he
had become Labour's Junior Whip.

Citizenship rights
and roles

Darren Hughes favours a proactive approach to teaching the rights and
roles of citizenship. Citizenship includes practical things like dealing
with the law and its basis, including the Bill of Rights, Magna Carta
and the Treaty of Waitangi. People need background knowledge so they
can see the principles on which government and representative democracy
is based.

He says New Zealand should develop trials and best practice of citizenship
education in schools that are prepared to do it, and professional development
to help teachers make it interesting.

Participants and hosts learn

Youth Parliament is “a two way street – the participants
learn, and the hosts learn.” From the young person’s point
of view Youth Parliament makes Parliament – and therefore democracy
– relevant and real. But also, for those few days, 120 Youth Parliamentarians
put youth policy right at the central focus. “Parliament, the government,
and the establishment in Wellington are challenged about the issues young
people want to talk about,” he says.

Darren Hughes was at the first Youth Parliament in 1994 and was the first
youth MP to become the real thing. The fourth Youth Parliament, late in
2004, was a show piece of the 150th anniversary of the forming of the
New Zealand Parliament. The 2004 Youth Parliament included youth press
gallery members, who wrote for their hometown newspapers.

Life as a backbencher

Darren Hughes really enjoyed being a backbench MP during his firstv term.

“ It is good to start off your political career working on the
backbenches, and playing your role in your party” he said.

“Obviously your influence is limited. You are not in the executive.
You don’t chair a select committee as a first-term MP. But you carve
out a role for yourself. There are caucus committees where I have a policy
interest, and share briefings with Ministers, and debate policy ideas.
Also through the wider caucus when wider issues are being considered,
as an electorate MP, I am able to give views, including how people in
heartland New Zealand might respond to an issue. I bring that directly
to the caucus,” he said early in his first term.